retroblog.net

like a lot of other music blogs, I receive promo DVDs and CDs from various companies for me to review. And over time, the retroblog promo bag has gotten quite full. So, I thought I’d do another giveaway so that I share some of these cool titles with my retroblog readers.

here’s what you do. take a look at this photo of DVDs and CDs.

all you have to do is identify as many CDs/DVDs as you can that’s featured in this photo. I’ll need artist AND title of each item. The person that identifies the most items in this photo correctly will be sent the CD or DVD of their choice (from this pile of promos of course). Simple as that.

submit your answers at this link. (via surveymonkey)

Since this is a contest the requires correct answers please refrain from posting any of the answers in the comment section of this post. I’m only accepting answers through THIS LINK.

As always, when submitting your answers, please include your correct mailing address and email address so that, if you win, the prize will be sent to the right address. I know, I know, it’s common sense but still, from past experience, I HAVE to mention it.

Oh and bonus points for those that follow me on twitter and facebook. be sure to mention it when you submit your answers in order to get credit.

Thanks for participating! have fun!

this contest ends at 11:59pm November 18, 2011.

please note: only open to those in the U.S.

They Might Be Giants recently announced that they’ll be releasing an all new rarities album on November 1st titled “Album Raises New and Troubling Questions”. There’s not much more info in regards to tracks and such but more TMBG music is always a good thing in my book. keep ‘em comin’!

the guys are still out on the road supporting their most recent studio album, Join Us.
catch ‘em if ya can.

Oct 28 2011 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre
Oct 29 2011 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Oct 30 2011 Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre
Nov 1 2011 Omaha, NE – Slowdown
Nov 2 2011 Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
Nov 3 2011 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre
Nov 4 2011 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Nov 5 2011 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
Nov 6 2011 Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Nov 8 2011 Vancouver, BC – Venue
Nov 9 2011 Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Nov 10 2011 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Nov 11 2011 Arcata, CA – Van Duzer Theatre
Nov 12 2011 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore
Nov 13 2011 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore
Nov 16 2011 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Nov 17 2011 San Diego, CA – Belly Up
Nov 25 2011 Uncasville, CT – Free Audience Appreciation Show – Mohegan Sun Casino
Nov 26 2011 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Jan 27 2012 Santa Cruz, CA – The Rio Theatre
Jan 28 2012 Los Angeles, CA – Special Family Show – Royce Hall UCLA
Jan 28 2012 Los Angeles, CA – 30th Anniversary Show – Royce Hall UCLA
Jan 29 2012 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
Jan 30 2012 Tucson, AZ – The Rialto Theatre
Feb 1 2012 Tulsa, OK (Rescheduled from Sept.) – Cain’s Ballroom
Feb 2 2012 Dallas, TX – The Granada Theatre
Feb 3 2012 Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
Feb 4 2012 New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
Feb 7 2012 Tampa, FL – The Ritz Ybor
Feb 8 2012 Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
Feb 10 2012 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Feb 11 2012 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Feb 12 2012 Chattanooga, TN – Track 29
Feb 14 2012 Charlotte, NC – McGlohan Theater at Spirit Square
Feb 15 2012 Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
Feb 16 2012 Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre
Feb 17 2012 Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live
Mar 8 2012 Northampton, MA – Calvin Theater
Mar 9 2012 Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
Mar 10 2012 New York, NY – Terminal 5

———-

**update: 18Oct11**

info from ParticleMen’s youtube page!!!

Idlewild Recordings next release arrives Nov. 1! They Might Be Giants’ Album Raises New and Troubling Questions. A brand new rarities, remix and video compilation includes 20 brand new songs! Digital release is direct from www.tmbg.com, iTunes & Amazon. Special limited run of vinyl and CDs for orders by Nov. 15.

In the many months making and then promoting Join Us They Might Be Giants created many recordings. Contained on this brand new full length album of rarities are many previously unheard tracks along with the live version of Cloisonné heard on the official video of the song, a fantastic remix of You Probably Get That A Lot from the Elegant Too, plus the band’s now legendary appearance on The Onion AV Club’s Undercover series performing Tubthumping with the AV Club Choir. Rollicking new music from TMBGs Other Thing Brass Band sessions fill out the set, making ALBUM RAISES NEW AND TROUBLING QUESTIONS a must have for all TMBG music-lovers.

Complete track listing: O We, Authenticity Trip, You Probably Get That A Lot (Elegant Too remix), Now I Know, Doom Doom, Tubthumping (feat. the Onion AV Club Choir), Electronic Istanbul (Not Constantinople), Cloisonné (live), Marty Beller Mask, How Now Dark Cloud?, Money for Dope,The Fellowship of Hell, Read A Book, Mountain Flowers, Havalina, 200 Sbemails, and featuring TMBGs Other Thing Brass Band: Boat of Car, Mr. Me, Dirt Bike, Particle Man

VIDEO BONUS! Electronic Istanbul (Not Constantinople), You Probably Get That A Lot, Can’t Keep Johnny Down, Spoiler Alert, Cloisonné

it has been a while since I’ve shared any links of interest. So, here ya go, some random links for the weekend. Normally I share more of these types of links via my facebook page so if you enjoy this type of thing, be sure to “like” my FB page to keep in the loop.

Keith Emerson Band Feat. Mark Bonilla – Live In Moscow (2011)
The great return of Keith Emerson to Progressive Rock was debuted in the summer of 2010 in Moscow, Russia, at the Moscow Theatre – an explosive combination of the classic ELP sound and modern Hard Rock flavor which was captured on tape. Several Emerson, Lake & Palmer classics have been cleverly re-arranged with new guitar versions, adding entirely new elements to the already epic sound. Emerson’s keyboard is flamboyant and explosive more than ever. When interviewed recently, Keith confessed, that these new re-constructions with guitar reflected more accurately the way he had originally envisioned them. Besides Emerson and guitarist Marc Bonilla, the band members include drummer Tony Pia (Edgar Winter, Brian Setzer, Doobie Brothers) and multi-faceted newcomer Travis Davis on bass and backing vocals.
CD 1 | CD 2 | CD 3

Kim Wilde – Original Gold 2 CD (1998)
Kim Wilde. Mention her name and people’s eyes light up. The blonde singer with the siren voice is after all one of pop music’s most dazzling stars. For years she has held the record as England’s most successful female pop star ever. The French consider her the “Brigitte Bardot of Rock” and her German fans still venerate her as the sexiest glamour girl to come out of the eighties. Even today megahits such as “Kids In America” and “Cambodia” are guaranteed to rock the dance floor.
click here

Eric Clapton – live 1998-10-15 – London (SBD)
This soundboard recording of the first night, October 15, 1998, is unique in several respects. First, Eric plays acoustic guitar on 4 numbers, a rarity in concert for him. Second, he’s supported not only by his regular band, but also by a 20 piece orchestra. Third, Bonnie Raitt joins him during the encores for Before You Accuse Me. Finally, the sound is so good on this bootleg, that the Geetarz website, which normally rates bootlegs on a scale of 1 (worst) to 6 (best), gave this recording a 7! Download this one to hear one of the best Clapton recordings you’ll ever find.
boot recording via So Many Roads to Ease My Soul

David Foster – A Touch Of David Foster (1992)
a nice compilation of David Foster’s most sappiest tunes.
click here

Evanescence – Live At Rock in Rio (2011)
set includes “What You Want”, “My Immortal”, “Sick” and “Bring Me to Life”
click here

enjoy!

I took the kids to see Weird Al Yankovic at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) this past sunday. Just want to make it clear that I went to the concert for MY KIDS. Certainly not for myself since I’m a sophisticated music blogger and all. *ahem*. …OK, who am I kidding? Weird Al and his band put on a great live show and the kids and *I* had a blast. There I said it. I enjoyed the Weird Al show, OK? Why should I feel embarrassed for admitting that? The guy is a pop culture icon. Yankovic has managed to sustain a 30 year career out of making song parodies. I mean, he’s outlasted a long, long list of bands and artists that have come and gone over the years. Plus he’s got his live shows down to a science – which includes lights, video screens, a couple cheerleaders, stormtroopers, Darth Vader and a slew of costume changes.

Yankovic’s show is a well-oiled machine that’s scripted, well-rehearsed and synchronized with the video feeds. So there’s not much spontaneity here but in the world of Weird Al, there’s no need for such things. OK, ok, fans might argue that Weird Al does alternate playing “You Make Me” with “Frank’s 2000 inch TV” from show to show and he mentions a local coffee shop during his spiel in “Craigslist” but they’d be missing the point. A Yankovic concert is more like a broadway musical than say a Phish concert where setlists differ from gig to gig.

But enough about that. All that really matters is that the kids and I enjoyed seeing Weird Al. His fans pretty much packed the DPAC which holds around 2,500. Luckily we got our tickets early and were close enough to get splashed with water during his Nirvana spoof and be able to notice his double-chin becoming unglued at the end of “Fat”.

I love all his rap parodies so I was delighted to see him do “Another Tattoo”, “Amish Paradise” and “White and Nerdy”. The Star Wars encore was another highlight of course. The “oldies” Medley hit all the right notes but I personally would have like a few more “oldies” in the setlist. Another memorable bit was during “Wanna B Ur Lovr” where Yankovic, dressed up in a tiger-striped suit, went around and air-grinded a few “lucky” women in the audience.

With all the wardrobe changes the guy has to do each night, I have to say that Al sure does work hard for his fans. Oh, and big props to his band – Steve Jay, Jon Bermuda Schwartz, Ruben Valtierra and Jim West. they can pull off any genre with ease which isn’t as easy as it looks. they sounded pretty tight.

All in all, a fun night out with my kids. I’d definitely catch Yankovic again the next time he comes through. And after seeing all the grinning faces at the end of the night, I’m pretty sure most if not all would do the same.

retroGrade: A

Weird Al Yankovic
October 9, 2011
Durham Performing Arts Center

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I’m still not totally sold on Mike Peters singing Big Country songs. Yes, I’m glad to see the remaining Big Country members (Bruce Watson, Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki) playing together again but Peters’ voice is just so distinctive and so unlike Stuart Adamson’s. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of both Big Country and the Alarm so you’d think that this would be a match made in heaven for me but listening to their live album, Dreams Stay With You: Live April 2011, I’m just still not convinced this works under the name “Big Country”.

But I don’t know… maybe this collaboration works better when seeing them in person. I doubt they’ll ever do any dates here in the U.S. but they’ve announced UK dates for February 2012 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album The Crossing.

Here’s the official announcement:

Big Country who have completed a very successful comeback year which has seen them complete two sold-out UK tours and make high profile appearances at The Isle of Wight Festival, T in The Park, Oxegen and V Festivals plus, reunite with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite for the first time in 27 years, announce a new tour of UK for 2012. This will be the commencement of celebrations for their 30th anniversary and to mark it, Universal are to re-release The Crossing the bands debut classic album, in various formats. The band will perform the album live in its entirety.

Tony Butler says “First albums are usually considered to be a bands finest moment, for us it was a magical one. A collection of songs that were unique, original and above all, heart felt. We knew we were different and we knew we were creating something special.”
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Rock icon Lindsey Buckingham performed at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC this past saturday as part of his 2011 Seeds We Sow tour. I have to admit that I wasn’t all that excited before the show since I learned that the setlist didn’t feature some of my personal favorites from “Gift of Screws” and “Out of the Cradle”. But whatever issues I had with the setlist quickly went out the window once the man took the stage. I didn’t realize what a powerful performer Buckingham is. Yes, the guy is a virtuoso on guitar but his dynamic vocal abilities really brought the house down. It was amazing to see and hear how he fully commits to songs like “Go Insane”, “Never Going Back Again” or “Big Love”. Buckingham put so much passion and emotion into those performances, you ended up wondering if the guy was gonna literally pass out on stage. How the hell he could give 110% like that, over and over again at every show is beyond me. Big props to Buckingham because I consider that a rare talent these days.

After doing the first five songs solo, Buckingham brought out the rest of the band – Brett Tuggle, Neale Heywood and Walfredo Reyes. the guys did a fantastic job recreating the new songs on stage. In fact, some of these versions are even better than their recorded counterpart. “Stars are Crazy” and “Illumination” are two that come to mind.

I also noticed that Reyes was playing a Roland electronic drum kit. I’m guessing that it was Buckingham’s decision to use electronic drums but whatever the case may be, I personally missed the hard “thwack” of a real snare on rockers like “I’m So Afraid” and “Go Your Own Way”. oh well, I guess that’s just me.

Buckingham shared a few stories in between numbers which was a nice touch. From all the years of performing live, Buckingham seems to be very at ease on stage. The way he spoke to the crowd was very natural and didn’t seemed forced. He definitely made a connection with the audience which for some other performers is a hard thing to do (i.e. Eric Clapton).

As for the newly renovated Carolina Theatre – I love seeing shows in this venue. It’s a very intimate setting with not a bad seat in the house. Oh, and with the parking deck right across the street, getting in and out of the place is never a problem. plus the folks at the theatre are always polite and friendly. a big thumbs up to the Carolina Theatre and I wish the venue much success with the upcoming lineup of shows. as a matter of fact, I’ll be coming back for the Todd Rundgren/Utopia show next month!

I do have to mention a weird thing that happened with the sound toward the end of the concert. I’m not sure if the sound team were simply testing out the limits of the new sound system or what but the overall volume got extremely loud (which resulted in a muddy, almost distorted mix) for the last few songs. It was pretty noticeable since the sound mix was pretty much perfect up until that point.

highlights of the evening included: “Stars Are Crazy” (way better than the recorded version), “Big Love” (yes, he’s played this version for years but it always packs a big whallop!), “Illumination”, “Trouble” (love the acoustic rendition), “I’m So Afraid” (love the long drawn out guitar solo)

retroGrade: A+

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The new album Sweetheart of the Sun by the Bangles is out in stores today. The new release is the follow-up to their 2003 Doll Revolution album. But for some, Sweetheart of the Sun may feel like a follow-up to Matthew Sweet’s collaboration with Susanna Hoffs (Under the Covers Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) especially since Sweet co-produced & engineered the record and all. The loose, retro vibe carried over from the Under the Covers sessions is a natural fit for a band like the Bangles since they’ve always been heavily influenced by 60′s rock.

Hoffs, Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson have never sounded more relaxed and comfortable than they do here. Maybe without the pressures of a major label, the band is finally free to create music for themselves and not for high-volume sales. Introspective lyrics, jangly guitars and sweet three-part harmonies, all make for a lovely listen. The girls hook you in with the tuneful opening chords of “Anna Lee” and won’t let you go until 40 minutes later with the lingering notes at the end of their Todd Rundgren cover, “Open My Eyes”.

It’s great to see this group back together again after the long hiatus but I do have to admit that I miss the presence of original bassist Michael Steele. but it is what it is. And you may not be aware of this but this year marks the 30th anniversary of the band! holy cow!

highlights include: Anna Lee, Under a Cloud, I’ll Never Be Through With You, Circles in the Sky

retroGrade: B+

The Bangles
Sweetheart of the Sun
released: September 27, 2011
label: Model Music Group
the Bangles are: Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson
produced by The Bangles and Matthew Sweet

TRACK LISTING
1 Anna Lee (Sweetheart of the Sun) 3:30
2 Under a Cloud 4:07
3 Ball N Chain 3:51
4 I’ll Never Be Through with You 3:40
5 Mesmerized 3:46
6 Circles in the Sky 4:04
7 Sweet and Tender Romance 2:11
8 Lay Yourself Down 3:23
9 One of Two 3:39
10 What a Life 3:22
11 Through Your Eyes 3:50
12 Open My Eyes 3:00

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